The Odisha Assembly today witnessed unruly scenes and was adjourned for at least five times with the opposition Congress and BJP creating ruckus over alleged illegal detention of farmers across the state before their rally in the state capital.
While Congress members repeatedly demonstrated in Well of the House, BJP MLAs criticised the government for action against a peaceful agitation by the farmers.
The BJP members also staged a walkout and sat on a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises for being denied permission to speak on the issue.
The farmers were allegedly detained by the police and prevented from attending a rally convened by the Nabanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) in front of the Assembly today.
"This (BJD) government has admitted that it is a liar. Now by detaining farmers on their way to the rally, the government has proved to be a coward. This is undemocratic, unconstitutional and unacceptable," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said adding, the farmers were not Maoists.
Stating that the farmers were arrested under the provision of the Criminal Procedure Code, Mishra said the government has no right to take anyone into custody for making a genuine demand.
"I think the farmers' demands are genuine and justified. They have been demanding proper price for their produce, prestige and pension for elder farmers. They were coming to the state capital to draw attention of the government," Mishra said.
The Leader of Opposition demanded an apology from the Chief Minister for the police "torture" on farmers.
"The Chief Minister must tender apology for the police action, discuss with the agitating farmers and resolve the issue," Mishra said dubbing the state government "anti-farmer."
Rejecting the Congress allegation, government Chief Whip Ananta Das said the government has taken a number of measures for the farming community.
"The Chief Minister had direct interaction with farmers at Sohole in Bargharh district and announced bonus on paddy. Odisha is the second state after Karnataka to have a separate agriculture budget," Das said.
Describing Patnaik as the real "friend" of farmers, Das said Odisha has been getting Krushi Karman Award for increasing volume of crops in the state.
He alleged that activists of other parties were trying to create disturbance in the state capital in the guise of farmers.
The police have taken action to maintain law and order, he said.
Seeking a ruling from the Chair, Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati attempted to climb on the Speaker's podium after pulling down his mike.
Unable to run the House, Deputy Speaker Sadan Marandi adjourned the House five times.
The opposition Congress members also shouted anti-government slogans in the Well. An all party-meeting to resolve the matter also failed to yield any result as the Opposition members continued to demand apology from the Chief Minister.
Congress MLAs also rushed to Raj Bhavan and apprised Governor S C Jamir on the illegal detention of farmers, requesting him to intervene in the matter and demanded immediate release of the farmers from police custody.
Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy said outside the House that he was always prepared to discuss on the farmers' issue.
"The Leader of Opposition raised the matter in the House. But, I have nothing to do with that as the Deputy Speaker denied him," Maharathy said.
Maharathy clarified he has not received any memorandum from the NKS in regard to the demands of the farmers.
"I am not aware about their problems. I am always ready to discuss farmers' issues," he said.
On the detention of farmers at different parts of the state, Maharathy said "Ask the Chief Minister in this regard."
Congress leaders claimed the police detained over 400 farmers who were on their way to a rally under the banner of Nabanirman Krushak Sangathan.
The Assembly, however, passed the demand of different departments of the supplementary budget through guillotine when the Opposition members were shouting in the Well of the House.
